If Anything Happens to Me, President Ruto Must be Held to Account - Rigathi Gachagua

Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made his first public appearance since being hospitalised at Karen Hospital on Thursday, October 17.

Speaking to the press on Sunday, October 20, outside Karen Hospital, Gachagua accused President William Ruto of withdrawing his security detail.

He claimed that he is not feeling safe and that if anything happens to him, the Head of State should be held to account.

"It is unfortunate that when I was here in the hospital, my brother and friend President William Ruto ordered the withdrawal of my security. Officers who were close to me were disarmed and given a warning that they should not be anywhere near me. I didn't know President Ruto could be that vicious. If anything happens to me, President William Ruto should be held accountable," Gachagua remarked.

He added, “Rigathi Gachagua and his family feel very exposed. I ask President William Ruto, my brother, I helped you to be president. Leave me alone. Leave my children alone. Do whatever you want, but let me live. Don’t kill us. Don’t kill my children.”

Assassination claims

The ousted deputy president further sensationally claimed that security agents tried to poison him while he was in Kisumu on August 30.

“I want to tell the people of Kenya that I don't feel safe. For the first time, let me say that on August 30, in Kisumu, undercover security agents entered my room and one of them tried to poison my food, but we detected it and we were able to escape the scheme. I was supposed to be killed through poisoning,” Gachagua claimed.

Being taken ill at Karen Hospital

Recalling the moment he fell ill during his impeachment trial, Gachagua mentioned that he experienced chest pains after lunch while heading to his office at Harambee House to retrieve his notes.

He claimed that he called his doctor and that as they were speaking, he developed shortness of breath before the doctor instructed him to get to the hospital.

“I went to my office to pick up my notes and suddenly I developed very intense pain in the chest. I sat down and the pain continued. I called my doctor and described to him how I was feeling. As we were speaking, I started having shortness of breath and Dr. Gikonyo instructed me to drop everything I was doing and get to Karen as quickly as possible," Gachagua claimed.

“I went down through the lift to my car and instructed my people to speedily take me to Karen Hospital. By the time I was getting there, I was under a lot of pain and shortness of breath and the doctor was waiting for me. He examined me and made a decision that I must be admitted. After I stabilized, he told me that if I had been late for 20 minutes, we could be talking of a different story.”

His next move

Gachagua noted that he did not bear any grudges and that he will focus on his health first.

He claimed that he was ready for cross-examination at the Senate but was not given the opportunity.

"I was ready for cross-examination so that I could answer those 11 charges one by one. And I am sure had I been given that opportunity, I would have persuaded the senators otherwise. I was not given that opportunity,” Gachagua claimed.

He maintained that the court will interrogate the parliamentary process and make a decision.